christmas decorations are at a minimum this year.
we're keeping it simple and it feels good.



we have boxes and boxes (and more boxes) of "stuff" in storage, but when it came to putting it all out, it just didn't feel right.
not as funky as three years ago...

i was newly home from cleaning up in new orleans - post katrina.
i picked through the shed of the family we helped. much of their christmas decorations ruined; covered with a muddy muck.
seriously - i had to go talk to my pastor about it.
no decorations.
no christmas shopping at that point and it was december 19 - i believe.
i did finally pull it together - a little.

this year isn't funky and depressed.
it's just different.

so, we chose to focus on just a few special things.
our tree has just our family ornaments on it this year and it's joined by what i hope will be a new tradition - a gratitude garland!
we put the tree up before thanksgiving and made a chain garland out of strips of paper that all of us wrote what we are grateful for on.

and this:

is a very special little something that my mom gave me for me birthday several years ago. she said it reminded her of me and christopher when we were little. i love it.



On our mantle is a simple nativity and a st. nicholas - with evergreen, candles and antique (not really - but they look like it!)
glass ornaments. you will also notice to the right of the fire :) is a little sleigh with stuffed snowmen (gotta have *something* that abraham can touch!)

here's our little coat rack right inside our front door.
again - simple.